Monika Spolia / February 27, 2010 -Bharat Times Journal, March 2020 issue
Indian-sub-continent Christian Community hosts 'Haiti Fundraising Dinner & Dance'

      From St. Suzanne's Parish, Jimmy Fernandes, Norbert Pinto, Robert, Mr. Thereault alongwith other English speaking committee members, some French speaking committee members, and also some members from Egyptian, Syrian and Lebanese groups who share the same church put a lot of their collective efforts and time into organizing an outstanding dinner and dance to raise funds to help victims of recent Catastrophe in Haiti. On February 27, 2010 the hall was full with beaming adults, couples, kids, teens and elders who participated in this event and showed their support for their fellow brothers and sisters. Omnipresent Flora and Cathal Marlow with their children also participated in the event.
       Live music played by the band, 'Stardust' was simply superb - nice tunes, karaoke, line dancing, maquerena and what not. Stardust band members - Norbert Pinto, Joes Fernandes and Daphanie Fernandes - volunteered their servies for this special evening. Everyone enjoyed the evening dedicated to a noble cause.

      Montréal, March 7, 2010 - The Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Services and M.N.A. for Laurier-Dorion, Mr. Gerry Sklavounos, met with members of his riding’s Tamil community tonight during a town hall meeting to discuss various issues of concern.
Over 60 Laurier-Dorion residents of Sri Lankan descent turned out at Tamilar Olli to hear Mr. Sklavounos speak and to share their views on topics ranging from health and education to integration and electoral participation.
These town hall meetings, or “Friendship Gatherings”, organized by the M.N.A. and his staff were designed as an additional forum of exchange between Mr. Sklavounos and the residents of his riding.
“The Tamil community has experienced significant growth in Laurier-Dorion in the past decade and it is my responsibility to ensure that they have optimal access to their M.N.A. and that I, in turn, have an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges they face as they strive to better their quality of life and contribute to Québec society”, declared Gerry Sklavounos.

Gerry Sklavounos meets with the Bangladeshi community of Laurier-Dorion

      Montréal, March 8, 2010 - The Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Services and M.N.A. for Laurier-Dorion, Mr. Gerry Sklavounos, met with members of his riding’s Bangladeshi community tonight during a town hall meeting to discuss various issues of concern.
      Many Laurier-Dorion residents of Bangladeshi descent turned out at Dera Restaurant to hear Mr. Sklavounos speak and to share their views on topics ranging from health and education to integration and electoral participation.
      These town hall meetings, or “Friendship Gatherings”, organized by the M.N.A. and his staff were designed as an additional forum of exchange between Mr. Sklavounos and the residents of his riding.
      “The Bangladeshi community has experienced significant growth in Laurier-Dorion in the past decade and it is my responsibility to ensure that they have optimal access to their M.N.A. and that I, in turn, have an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges they face as they strive to better their quality of life and contribute to Québec society”, declared Gerry Sklavounos.
                                                           Bharat Times Journal March 2010

Gerry Sklavounos meets with the Pakistani community of Laurier-Dorion

       Montréal, March 22, 2010 - The Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Services and M.N.A. for Laurier-Dorion, Mr. Gerry Sklavounos, met with members of his riding’s Pakistani community tonight during a town hall meeting to discuss various issues of concern.
       In the most well-attended such meeting to-date, over 120 Laurier-Dorion residents of Pakistani descent turned out at Dera Restaurant to hear Mr. Sklavounos speak and to share their views on topics ranging from health and education to integration and electoral participation.
       These town hall meetings, or “Friendship Gatherings”, organized by the M.N.A. and his staff were designed as an additional forum of exchange between Mr. Sklavounos and the residents of his riding.
       “The Pakistani community has experienced significant growth in Laurier-Dorion in the past decade and it is my responsibility to ensure that they have optimal access to their M.N.A. and that I, in turn, have an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges they face as they strive to better their quality of life and contribute to Québec society”, declared Gerry Sklavounos.
                                                               Bharat Times Journal March 2010

ICAM Celebrates India's Republic Day Diamond Jubilee

Yes, India's Republic Day is on January 26th. Wanting nevertheless not to let this celebration pass by due to the heinous tragedy in Haiti, however, the celebration took place on February 27th in Montreal after the grief period observed for the victims in Haiti.
CB Singh, President of India-Canada Association of Montreal (ICAM) was the vibrant personality behind this event who spent his precious time and energy to organize this event for the community. Eveagreen Reception Hall, Bharat Times and Mohan Singh helped a great deal.
Guest of honor for the evening was S. Rao, Counsellor at High Commission of India in Ottawa. Mr. Ajay and Rama Bhargav from Sky Lawn Travels (Travel Agency) were seated at the head table with Mr. Rao, CB Singh and Tina Singh. Many Indian-sub-continent groups such as Ramji Mandhata Temple, Hindu Mission of Quebec (Montreal) Temple, Zahir Fancy from Fancy Financial Services, Nirankaris etc. participated and supported the event.
The program started with the national anthem of India and Canada. Music and DJ department was handled by Rohit Bhopal from Jiva Productions. Good job, Rohit.
Indian Classical dance was preformed by Sudeshna Maulik, a disciple of the world renowned Kathak Dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj, and her students. Bhangra was performed by Heera. Of course, the dinner was mouth-watering delicious.
Monika Spolia
                                                                                                                                              Monika Spolia / Bharat Times March 2010 issue

A Day of Reflection on SPVM Community Partners

SPVM ( Montreal Police Service) launched a program for community partnership a few years ago. December 10th held the reflection day on various community committee partnerships with SPVM as new dimensions were explored and strategies were sought.
          Mr. Jean-Guy Gagnon, Deputy Strategic Director, welcomed the crowd and opened the floor to the committee representatives.
Riza Esmeralda provided a report on Asian Vigilance Committee, the most dynamic committee.
          Dr. Uma Shanker Srivastava gave gifts to Sargent Nathalie Tétrault (leader of Asian Vigilance Committee) and Mr. Tran (a SPVM employee and a member of the committee) on behalf of South-Asian Vigilance committee members, namely Dr. Uma Shanker Srivastava, Monika Spolia, Kandhiya Sivamalhar and Mahmood Raza Baig.
          There were reports from Black community, Latino community, Arab community committees as well as from Senior's and Youth committees in Montreal.
          Some threads on the security of Montreal were presented by Mr. Marc Parent – Assistant Director Chief of Service and Community Services in Montreal North, Mr. Pierre Brochet – Assistant Director Chief of Service and Community Services in Montreal West, Mr. Denis Desroches – Assistant Director Chief of Service and Community Services in Montreal South and Mr. Carol Maltais – Assistant Director Chief of Service and Community Services in Montreal East.
          Some recommendations were mentioned for consolidating structure of vigilance in actuality. The personnel of SPVM is to work closely with vigilance committee members. Also the transfer of information between different vigilance committees was suggested for being more dynamic and decreasing the gaps in inter-community communication.
          Mr. Guy Drudi of Comittee Strategique, spoke on the structure of vigilance and overview of the key issues and challenges identified by the committee members. "These changes are internal and will be implemented in long term," said Mr. Drudi.
          Mr. Mario-Plante, Assistant director of Communications and Relations with Community Services, briefly touched upon the implementation of the consolidated structure of vigilance and the Action Plan though bearing in mind the demographic changes in population and technical changes like internet and other changes.
          Sargent Rousseau talked about consolidation of the vigilance corporate structure.
          Mr. Denis Desroches, Assistant Director Responsible for Intercultural Competence Development File, presented two video clips on challenges facing Montreal cultural communities and intervention.
          The Director, Mr. Yvan Delorme, thanked the various Vigilance Committee members and the SPVM members whose joint effort is on the rise for bringing more insight to the Montreal Culture as a whole, inter-cultural communication and helping to eradicate crime by building bridges between SPVM and cultural communities.
          The Reflection Day ended with a deliciously diverse and mouth-watering buffet.
                                                                                                                                              Monika Spolia / Bharat Times December 2009 issue

Late Mr. Saini, the Pioneer Media Personality of Montreal

Mukesh Joshi (1962-2009)

Monika Spolia / January 3, 2010

Shama Chopra of Montreal Survives Terrorist Attack On Christmas Day on NWA Flight 253

Fireworks, yes! but not suicidal fire on Christmas. And that on a plane in midair? It's just not a pleasant way to enjoy Christmas, nevertheless, the spirit pulled through.
          Shama Chopra, a well-known singer in the Indian community, survived terrorist attack. Glad to be back in the safety of her home and in the arms of her husband, Raman Chopra, she is still somewhat shaken and is experiencing terror thinking back about the incident.
          Shama took the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit. Following the commotion as all the passengers on the plane were getting ready for landing in Detroit, she mistook firework for gunshots.
          Then she heard the flight attendants screaming about fire and water. She turned to see a young man on fire who had looked to be lost in thoughts earlier during the flight.
          The passengers were passing bottles of water to put out the fire. The smoke was really bad. Everybody was panicking. At last passengers and crew managed to overpower the suspect and brought him to the front of the plane and literally tied him to a seat with a rope. Luckily, no devices went off.
          As soon as the plane landed, the authorities boarded the flight and led the suspect, now identified as a 23 years old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. Umar had managed to board the flight in Amsterdam despite tight security.
          Once off the plane, the passengers were kept waiting for five hours and nobody was allowed to go anywhere, even the the restrooms, without an escort. Even the pilots were shaken, recalled Shama Chopra. She began vomiting as she got off the plane.
          Many hours later, she boarded another plane to Montreal and found herself crying in the safe arms of her husband.
          Tight security or not, Shama is hesitant to board another American flight.